Aston Villa v Newcastle – Premier League match preview

toonsy

Don't ever forget this!
Newcastle head to Villa Park tomorrow afternoon for yet another Premier League away game at a ground which holds bad memories for us fans in recent years.

The biggest one is undoubtedly the day that we were relegated after what can only be described as a shambolic and embarrassing performance in our hour of greatest need.

I’ve still not got my head around why Aston Vila – a team we’ve had no previous with prior to that day – took such delight in our demise. The 1-0 defeat that day was enough to send us spiralling to the Championship and for the Villa fans to get the banners out as they poked and prodded fun at us. Being honest, it hurt, and it still makes me angry now.

We returned to Villa Park last season. I remember it well. We’d dished out a thumping to them at St James’ Park earlier on in the season, which was nice, but there was pretty much zero difference in terms of our performance in the Midlands. The result was another 1-0 defeat, which was rather embarrassing for Joey Barton who captained the side just after yet another outburst to the press. On that occasion he claimed to be the best English midfielder in the Premier League. He didn’t show it that day.

It’s early days so far this season but both teams have made good starts to the Premier League campaign and remain unbeaten from the opening four games of the season. Hopefully we still have our unbeaten record come 4:50pm tomorrow afternoon although personally I’m not too fussed about Villa’s!

The home side will be without Emile Heskey, which is good news for the occupants of Rows X, Y and Z, whilst Jermaine Jenas is riding Sol Campbell (allegedly) out injured.

Last time out Aston Villa earned a rather creditable 2-2 draw with Everton at Goodison Park. In that match they lined up with a team of:

Aston Villa: Shay Given, Alan Hutton, Stephen Warnock, Richard Dunne, James Collins, Charles N’Zogbia, Fabian Delph, Stilyan Petrov, Darren Bent, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Emile Heskey

As far as Newcastle are concerned we’ll be without Davide Santon, Haris Vuckic, Mike Williamson and Hatem Ben Arfa although the latter of the quartet is still pencilled in for an appearance in the Carling Cup tie at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.

Shane Ferguson is fit and flying again after coming through a reserve game in midweek although I dare say that a space on the bench is most likely and that Ryan Taylor will continue in his role as makeshift left-back.

I know the old saying goes along the lines of ‘not changing a winning team’, and whilst we haven’t been winning we are unbeaten still. However I’d like to see at least one change tomorrow in terms of formation, which would in turn mean one change in playing personnel.

I would go with five in the middle, with open of those being slightly more attacking with the job of supporting the striker. For me that team would include:

Newcastle: Tim Krul, Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Gabriel Obertan, Cheik Tiote, Yohan Cabaye, Sylvain Marveaux, Jonas Gutierrez, Leon Best.

Something along them lines anyway. I just think it suits us a bit more at the moment. The fact that people could change the players involved and where they play probably demonstrates that.

This fixture is a home fixture. If you’re at home then you generally win seems to be the pattern. Seven of the last eight games between the two teams have ended in victory for the home side. The other one was a draw.

Aston Villa have four former Mags in their ranks: Shay Given, Stephen Ireland, Charles N’Zogbia and Habib Beye, although the sight of Habib in a first team shirt at Villa Park has been described as “rarer than rocking horse shi….” well, you know.

Charles N’Zogbia scored the winner the last time Newcastle won at Villa Park back in 2006. Shay Given also saved a penalty (not pelanty!) that day.

If Newcastle can keep a clean sheet tomorrow they will have equalled a record that has stood for 110 years. Not since 1901 (when Icedog was younger!) have the boys in black and white managed to keep clean sheets in the first three away league games of the season.

All of Newcastle’s league games this season have been level at 0-0 at half-time.

Alex McCleish has never beaten Newcastle in the Premier League.

I personally think that this will be a very tough test for our boys. They will need to retain that defensive solidarity whilst trying to attack the opposition this time around. Villa pose a threat going forward so if we do concede we will need to score to secure any points. Sounds simple, but scoring goals has been far from simple for Newcastle so far this season.

I’m going to keep my run of no predictions going for now in the hope that it keeps our unbeaten run going that little bit longer. I’d settle for a point right now to be honest, and a hassle free day at work which includes finishing on time so I can get home to see the match! You know something will go wrong though…

Howay the lads!

Date: Saturday, 17th September, 2011

Kick-off: 3:00pm (UK time)

Venue: Villa Park

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

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176 thoughts on “Aston Villa v Newcastle – Premier League match preview”

  1. Toonsy I would go with your team, but I think Pards will go with 2 strikers at home ? as for all the Villa stuff I have nowt really against them apart from the banners and as we know it only takes a few to do that, overall I dont think the majority of their fans have owt against us, but I could be wrong.
    By the way what is all the fighting on the last blog about ?

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  2. Think this will be a tough game for us but I could see this sneaky a one nil win. Haven’t been that impressed with how villa have done, they’ve had a good start but N’Zogbia has been very quiet since he has moved there.

    Our defence has been very solid and I think that strength will continue in this game and Villa may find us hard to break down

    Toonsy: Draft up for you 🙂

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  3. I think we will go for the 451 as outlined above by toonsy , tho i think id like to see Gosling get a run out. A draw be a very decent result. Though I would love us to nick the win as going for a few pints with my older brother who is a Villa fan tomorrow evening

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  4. I’d like to see us go 451 as well. With our midfield, there’s no reason not to. Gutted about Santon though. hopefully he’ll back asap.

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  5. i think we’ll get beat 1-0. I thought we were at home earlier in the week.

    I’d start with Gosling in the middle with Tiote & Cabaye

    Tim Krul,
    _________________________
    Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Ryan Taylor,
    ___________________________
    Sylvain Marveaux, Cheik Tiote, Gosling, Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez,
    _______________________
    Leon Best.

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  6. Toonsy would go with your team too but would love to see gosling get a crack as he is a brilliant player and has been bright since pre season dont know what’s happened to him?

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  7. I have a feeling we are going to suffer our first defeat of the season if we play 442 . Would like to see us going 451 with Marveaux on the left and Jonas playing in the hole behind Best , i would fancy our chances of getting at least a point then .

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  11. Mark that’s what I mean he looking sharp so why not give him a go? Just can’t understand why he wasn’t in squad at qpr?

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  12. I quite like Villa, theyve been around for a long time. Had some great players in their time.

    My favs were probably Peter Withe, Dean Saunders, Dalian atkinson and Tony Daley lol

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  13. The one i can’t understand is Kadar , were short on defenders and he is not even getting on the bench , even though he can play Lb .

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  14. they have a good sqaud, playing well and are at home… plus the big one for me.. they have ex toon favorites in their team.. that always causes problems. i just cant seeing us win this one unless we raise the bar a hell of al ong way from our patheitc QPR effort. I will go 2-0 vile alas.

    My team would be…….

    KRUL
    SIMMO TALYOR COLO JONAS
    OBERTAN TIOTE CABAYE MARV
    GOSLING
    BEST/BA

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  15. @Liam southern toon

    yip, me too m8. Ive put him in my team.

    hopefully Pards doesnt make the same mistake by playing 442 which he admitted was a mistake after the game.

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  18. Good article Toonsy.. would be with you, as everyone probably is, on wanting to see a 451, and would take the draw if offered it now.

    Think Fergie and Gosling deserve to at least make the bench after outstanding performances the other day, albeit a reserves game. Would actually like to see both start but cant see it happening.

    Expect the team to be…

    GK Krul
    DF Simmo Taylor Colo Raylor
    CM Cabaye Tiote Marv
    WG Obertan Jonas
    FW Best

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  19. I think a couple of reasons for the banners ect on the day you lads went down were partly down to the people in the press and in interviews giving the impression that you deserved to win something on the basis that your fans some-how love their team more than anybody else, which is ridiculous, but also for possibly the time just before all seater stadiums came in when a load of your fans came into the Holte end and started trouble pretty much at the front where all the kids and families were standing. Hated you lot that day, but had calmed down by the time you got relegated so wasn’t that bothered personally. I know too many geordies that would hate people for doing that aswell, and realize that there are arseholes in every club’s fan base

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  20. Btw, didnt get a chance to get online until last half hour, just wanted to say thanks for all the comments on last article lads, appreciate it

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  21. Can’t see Shola not starting so it’s 4-4-1 or 4-5-0.
    We got a point at QPR playing 4-4-1 so AP will probably stick with that formation.

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  22. Dano as I said @ 1 > I have nowt really against them apart from the banners and as we know it only takes a few to do that, overall I dont think the majority of their fans have owt against us

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  23. The team that we went down with had less guts than a skeleton, it still sticks in the throat the way the banners came out and sky loved every minute of it. The Villa fans I have met all seem decent fans but there’s a few arseholes in every crowd.

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  24. You fellas are right that it only takes a few with the signs, but it still angers me to no end.

    Hope we pummel them but i’m afraid a don’t see it. Think we can nick it at home. huge match IMO in that this is the type of club we will be competing with in the table by the end of the season.

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  27. Toonsy missed the joke with Campbell first time round hahahaha quality stuff!

    Jenas the only way out of Newcastle is down!

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  30. lol toonsy youre showing your age if you can boot your own ball bag. they reckon the older you get the lower your balls hang 🙂

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  32. @14
    Jonas at left back is a great shout he keeps telling Raylor how to do it. May as well do the job himself n give marv a start.

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  35. alright lads and lasses, got a bad feeling for this one!

    got two bets on, bet 1

    Villa 3-1 Newcastle
    Jonas to score anytime

    bet 2

    Bent to score and Villa win!

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  38. I got a feeling we will start 4-4-2 with shola n best up front again.
    But if it still not working, Pardew will change it at half time.
    2nd half 4-5-1 like most have been advocating.
    Had a feeling all week we are gonna nick 3 points.
    Hope to see a decent bench too. Gosling, ferguson, need to be included.
    Like the sound of putting Jonas G at LB, but dont think AP will change the back 4, especially after raving about them being ace.
    Same starting line up as qpr game. imo.
    Cant wait.
    HWTL

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  39. Craig: Your comment from the last thread, only just found it but it made me lol ahahahah

    ‘i read some of Zoes stuff and it seems pretty good to me but maybe its my imagination but as soon as we get any females on here the talk goes into a more flirtatious mode and the footy dies off from a few people. ahahah.. is Zoe hot or something?’

    Seriously though the mood shouldn’t change just because I am girl.

    Just saying!

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  40. Know, im at a civilised family meeting in Bristol, cause im a civilised human being that does know wrong 😉

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  42. Big Dave- Betting is about getting the money, not supporting your team.

    I’m a young lad with lots of expenses 😉

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  44. Zoe I know the mood shouldn’t change but you are a young lass so I try to be civil as I know I wouldn’t like one of my daughters to hear some of the **** on here at times, Toonsy is one of the main culprits but the worst for lowering the tone is Spencertoon, just makesure you dont give him your twitter name, because if he see’s your pic he will be chasing you and harrasing you 🙂

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  45. I know man.. its fat kunts fault.

    Ill but gutted if I get it taken of me like, but I am actually at a family reunion in Bristol as well.

    want to borrow my ST toonsy, you better say sat down though 😉

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  48. Zoe- Dave doesn’t really know me, he thinks im a uncivil monster, but im a loving caring person inside 🙂

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  58. Richie trustworthy ??????? good one spence i’ll have a pint of what your on.
    Ice your spot on as usual young fella.
    Zoe @ 53 dont encourage him he will think you feel sorry for him and be after you

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  60. Dave- Your making me out to be some sort of perv haha!
    Also I was taking the mic with the Rich bit 😛

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  62. richie is off to watch a spanish 2div game tonight only 12 euro,
    oh aye forgot to say hes a tight git too 🙂

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  64. Dave: there’s a problem with that, he can easily find it out as it’s on my articles ahahaha

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  65. DAVE kna just i had watched gosling in under21s thought he played canny the lad has a bit of fight in him which could be handy on two fronts

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  74. Krul

    Simpson Taylor Collo Raylor

    Tiote Cabaye

    Marveaux Gosling Jonas

    Ba

    subs: Harper, Best, Shola, Obertan, Guthrie, Perch, Fergueson

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